Latest news with #federaltrial
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Second ex-assistant says Diddy sexually assaulted her
Sean Combs's case revolves around his relationship with former girlfriend Casandra Ventura. (EPA Images pic) NEW YORK : A second former assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs testified today in the music mogul's federal trial, alleging he committed acts of violence against her and others, including sexual assault. Appearing under the pseudonym Mia to protect her identity, the assistant addressed jurors on the stand in the federal trial of the once-famed rapper, producer and entrepreneur who faces racketeering and sex trafficking charges that could put him in prison for life. Combs's case revolves around his relationship with his former girlfriend, singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, who earlier in the trial detailed years of alleged abuse and coercive, drug-fuelled sex marathons known as 'freak-offs'. 'He's going to kill me' Mia said she was close to the 'Diddy-Cassie' couple and recalled several episodes of violence. She sounded breathless at times as she told the court about seeing Ventura with 'busted lips', 'bruises' and 'a black eye'. Combs would tell Mia to 'go take care of her', referring to Ventura, adding that 'we were not allowed' to go out until her injuries healed enough to conceal. The prosecutors asked Mia about an incident during a holiday trip she took with the couple in 2012. One night, she said she was woken up by Ventura running into her room, 'screaming for help'. She recalled Ventura had said: 'He's gonna kill me,' referring to Combs. 'We started pushing furniture in front of the door,' Mia said, describing how Combs was 'screaming and banging' on the other side. The former assistant, like previous witnesses, said hotel rooms would be prepared for the 'freak-offs' and she would be responsible for the clean-up. Working for the hip-hop mogul could be exciting, she said, but was often degrading. 'He treated me sometimes like his best friend, a working partner, sometimes I was a worthless piece of crap,' Mia said. 'I just froze' She also accused Combs of violent acts against her. 'He has thrown things at me. He has thrown me against the wall. He has thrown me into a pool. He has thrown an ice bucket on my head. He has slammed my arm into a door,' she said. 'He has also sexually assaulted me.' She said Combs subjected her to 'sporadic' instances of sexual violence, including at the artiste's 40th birthday party at the Plaza Hotel in New York and his private residence in Los Angeles. 'I just froze, I didn't react, terrified and confused,' Mia said about one of the assaults. 'He was the boss or the king, very powerful person,' she said. 'This is years and years before social media, Me Too, or any sort of example where someone had stood up successfully to someone in power such as him,' she added. Mia said the rapper held sway over the police, describing how she herself was pulled over one day in LA for speeding. But when she called Combs and handed the phone to the female officer, 'she started laughing and saying like 'Oh my god, Puff Daddy, I love you,'… and then she let me go'. Mia's testimony is scheduled to continue tomorrow.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Sean Combs's Ex-Assistant to Resume Detailing Sex Assaults by ‘Puff'
A former assistant to Sean Combs who testified that he berated her, threw objects at her and sexually assaulted her during her years working for him is set to retake the witness stand on Friday as the third week of the music mogul's federal trial draws to a close. The former employee, referred to in court by the pseudonym Mia, is a key witness in helping the government try to prove racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges against Mr. Combs. As a part of Mr. Combs's entourage from 2009 to 2017, Mia said she was subjected herself to his violence and was a witness to his violence against others. While on the stand, she testified about seeing Mr. Combs repeatedly attack Casandra Ventura, the music mogul's on-and-off girlfriend of 11 years, whose recounting of brutal violence, meticulous control and marathon sexual encounters with male prostitutes, known as 'freak-offs,' are at the heart of the government's case. Lawyers for Mr. Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges against him, have acknowledged that their client has a history of violence, but they have asserted that he is not a racketeer or sex trafficker. They have denied that Mr. Combs sexually assaulted anyone. On Thursday, Mia described an unwanted kiss from Mr. Combs soon after she started working for him, testifying that she had hoped it was an 'accident' that would never happen again. She wept at times on the stand as she described two sexual assaults that followed, including forced oral sex in his bedroom closet and an incident in which she said she woke up in his Los Angeles home to find him on top of her. She testified that she 'froze' and did not react as he penetrated her. Mia testified that she did not report the assaults or tell anyone about them because she feared retaliation from Mr. Combs. 'I didn't want to lose everything that I worked so hard for,' she said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs accused of raping former aid
The 55-year-old music mogul is facing a federal trial in New York, accused of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution - which he has pleaded not guilty to. On Thursday, a witness under the alias of "Mia" took the stand to testify against Combs, having previously served as a personal assistant to him. The witness told the court she had been raped "More than once," by the mogul - and went on to list a string of alleged violent events that she suffered at the hands of the star.
News24
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
‘He's going to kill me': Second former Diddy staffer testifies to Cassie's harrowing pleas
A second former assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs testified in his federal trial, alleging physical and sexual violence, including 'freak-off' rituals involving coerced, abuse-laden encounters. Witness 'Mia' detailed years of mistreatment, claiming Combs subjected her and others, including singer Cassie, to violence and exploitation. Mia recounted harrowing events, including threats to Cassie's life, sexual assaults, and a culture of control and fear dictated by Combs's influence and power. A second former assistant to Sean 'Diddy' Combs testified Thursday in the music mogul's federal trial, alleging he committed acts of violence against her and others, including sexual assault. Appearing under the pseudonym Mia to protect her identity, the assistant addressed jurors on the stand in the federal trial of the once-famed rapper, producer and entrepreneur who faces racketeering and sex trafficking charges that could put him in prison for life. Combs's case revolves around his relationship with his former girlfriend, singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, who earlier in the trial detailed years of alleged abuse and coercive, drug-fuelled sex marathons known as 'freak-offs.' 'He's going to kill me' Mia said she was close to the 'Diddy-Cassie' couple and recalled several episodes of violence. She sounded breathless at times as she told the court about seeing Ventura with 'busted lips,' 'bruises' and 'a black eye.' Combs would tell Mia to 'go take care of her,' referring to Ventura, adding that 'we were not allowed' to go out until her injuries healed enough to conceal. The prosecutors asked Mia about an incident during a holiday trip she took with the couple in 2012. One night, she said she was woken up by Ventura running into her room, 'screaming for help.' She recalled Ventura had said: 'He's going kill me,' referring to Combs. 'We started pushing furniture in front of the door,' Mia said, describing how Combs was 'screaming and banging' on the other side. Like previous witnesses, the former assistant said hotel rooms would be prepared for the 'freak-offs,' and she would be responsible for the clean-up. She said that working for the hip-hop mogul could be exciting but was often degrading. 'He treated me sometimes like his best friend, a working partner; sometimes I was a worthless piece of crap,' Mia said. 'I just froze' She also accused Combs of violent acts against her. 'He has thrown things at me. He has thrown me against the wall. He has thrown me into a pool. He has thrown an ice bucket on my head. He has slammed my arm into a door,' she said. 'He has also sexually assaulted me.' She said Combs subjected her to 'sporadic' instances of sexual violence, including at the artist's 40th birthday party at the Plaza Hotel in New York and his private residence in Los Angeles. 'I just froze, I didn't react, terrified and confused,' Mia said about one of the assaults. She said: 'He was the boss or the king, very powerful person.' 'This is years and years before social media, Me Too, or any sort of example where someone had stood up successfully to someone in power such as him,' she added. Mia said the rapper held sway over the police, describing how she herself was pulled over one day in LA for speeding. But when she called Combs and handed the phone to the female officer, 'she started laughing and saying, 'Oh my God, Puff Daddy, I love you,'... and then she let me go.' Mia's testimony is scheduled to continue on Friday.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Second former Sean Combs assistant recounts her dream turned nightmare
A second former assistant to Sean "Diddy" Combs testified Thursday in the music mogul's federal trial, alledging he committed acts of violence against her and others, including sexual assault. Appearing under the pseudonym Mia to protect her identity, the assistant addressed jurors on the stand in the federal trial of the once-famed rapper, producer and entrepreneur who faces racketeering and sex trafficking charges that could put him in prison for life. Combs's case revolves around his relationship with his former girlfriend, singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, who earlier in the trial detailed years of alleged abuse and coercive, drug-fueled sex marathons known as "freak-offs." - 'He's going to kill me' - Mia said she was close to the "Diddy-Cassie" couple and recalled several episodes of violence. She sounded breathless at times as she told the court about seeing Ventura with "busted lips," "bruises" and "a black eye." Combs would tell Mia to "go take care of her," referring to Ventura, adding that "we were not allowed" to go out until her injuries healed enough to conceal. The prosecutors asked Mia about an incident during a holiday trip she took with the couple in 2012. One night, she said she was woken up by Ventura running into her room, "screaming for help." She recalled Ventura had said: "He's gonna kill me," referring to Combs. "We started pushing furniture in front of the door," Mia said, describing how Combs was "screaming and banging" on the other side. The former assistant, like previous witnesses, said hotel rooms would be prepared for the "freak-offs" and she would be responsible for the clean-up. Working for the hip-hop mogul could be exciting, she said, but was often degrading. "He treated me sometimes like his best friend, a working partner, sometimes I was a worthless piece of crap," Mia said. - 'I just froze' - She also accused Combs of violent acts against her. "He has thrown things at me. He has thrown me against the wall. He has thrown me into a pool. He has thrown an ice bucket on my head. He has slammed my arm into a door," she said. "He has also sexually assaulted me." She said Combs subjected her to "sporadic" instances of sexual violence, including at the artist's 40th birthday party at the Plaza Hotel in New York and his private residence in Los Angeles. "I just froze, I didn't react, terrified and confused," Mia said about one of the assaults. "He was the boss or the king, very powerful person," she said. "This is years and years before social media, Me Too, or any sort of example where someone had stood up successfully to someone in power such as him," she added. Mia said the rapper held sway over the police, describing how she herself was pulled over one day in LA for speeding. But when she called Combs and handed the phone to the female officer, "she started laughing and saying like 'oh my God, Puff Daddy, I love you,'... and then she let me go." Mia's testimony is scheduled to continue on Friday.
